Becoming The Man Without Qualities? Deskilling in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Michele Cantarella (), Giuseppe Molinari () and Chiara Strozzi ()
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Michele Cantarella: Technical University of Denmark - DTU
Giuseppe Molinari: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
Chiara Strozzi: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

No 18751, IZA Discussion Papers from IZA Network @ LISER

Abstract: This paper investigates how Artificial Intelligence reshapes the human capabilities that jobs require. Using longitudinal O*NET data for the U.S. labour market over 2011–2025, we distinguish among three types of human capabilities - abilities, skills, and knowledge - and construct two measures of human capabilities’ exposure to AI: one based on observed progress in Generative AI benchmark performance and one based on the broader evolution of AI-related scientific and public attention. We document a dual pattern. Within occupations, greater AI exposure is associated with higher proficiency requirements for selected capabilities. At the occupational level, more exposed occupations exhibit a compression in the overall breadth of capabilities required. Together, these findings suggest that AI is driving a process of occupational restructuring, leading to more specialized and less diverse capability profiles embedded in jobs.

Keywords: artificial intelligence; AI exposure; skill reallocation; task content; deskilling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J21 J24 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-06
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